Aurora Expeditions Becomes the First Expedition Company to Tackle Microplastic Pollution through Partnership with Cleaner Seas Group
In an industry-first, Aurora Expeditions has partnered with UK environmental technology start-up Cleaner Seas Group to combat microplastic pollution.
Ahead of the Antarctic season, Aurora will install Indikon marine-grade microfibre filtration systems on the washing machines aboard its new ship, Douglas Mawson. The advanced filters, developed by Cleaner Seas Group, capture up to 99% of microfibres released during laundry cycles, preventing them from entering the ocean via the vessel’s greywater system.
“Microfibre pollution is one of the most overlooked forms of plastic waste, often invisible, yet pervasive from coastlines to the poles,” said Sasha Buch, Sustainability Manager, Aurora Expeditions. “By installing Cleaner Seas’ filtration systems aboard Douglas Mawson, we’re taking a proactive step to keep microplastics out of some of the most pristine waters on Earth.”
Microplastics, particles smaller than 5 millimeters, have been detected across the globe, including Antarctica and the Arctic. A single load of synthetic laundry can release hundreds of thousands of fibres; once in the ocean, these fibres can be ingested by plankton and marine life, transferring pollutants through the food chain.
Following a successful period aboard Douglas Mawson, Aurora plans to extend the system to its other purpose-built ships, Sylvia Earle and Greg Mortimer, when the vessels return to Europe next year.
“As part of Cleaner Seas Group’s closed-loop sustainability model, used filter cartridges from Aurora’s ships will be collected and recycled locally by Cleaner Seas Group, transforming captured microfibres into new, sustainable materials and ensuring nothing goes to landfill,” said David Miller, CEO of Cleaner Seas.
“Building on our global growth, Cleaner Seas Group is set to establish a dedicated recycling facility in New Zealand in the near future, further strengthening our commitment to reducing ocean microplastic pollution worldwide.”
Polar sailor and Aurora special guest Lisa Blair, who collected 180 microplastic samples during her 2022 circumnavigation of Antarctica, found the highest concentrations in waters below Australia—the region where Douglas Mawson will operate this season. “Even in the most remote places on Earth, microplastics are present,” Blair said.
“Stopping fibres at the source matters.”
This initiative builds on Aurora Expeditions’ wider sustainability and innovation programs, from AI-enabled climate sensors with CounterCurrent to marine restoration partnerships, advancing the company’s mission to explore with purpose and protect the fragile environments it visits.
(Aurora Expeditions Becomes the First Expedition Company to Tackle Microplastic Pollution through Partnership with Cleaner Seas Group)
